The Ducks selected 10 players in the 2025 NHL Draft, though only three of them attended the draft. All 10 were at development camp the following week though, going through rigorous drills and testing.

Roger McQueen, the 10th overall selection, was by far the most popular player at development camp, using his combination of size and skill to wow fans who flocked to Great Park Ice in Irvine to watch the future of the Anaheim Ducks.

"All the guys in management are unbelievable here," McQueen said. "I think just meeting everyone was phenomenal, and the camp setup was really good, too. Just being able to come here and see all the guys in management was awesome. And being here is so sweet, hanging out with the guys after, just walking around at the beach or something after that. As far as camp went, I thought it was awesome and all the coaches did a really good job in setting that up, so I really liked it."

"It was a super fun week," Émile Guité said. "We learned a lot of stuff. Some skating, proper protection, one-on-one. I'll bring back those tools at home and practice them in the summer."

A skilled forward, Guité was drafted in the sixth round by the Ducks after posting an underwhelming season in the QMJHL for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens just one season after he was named QMJHL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Ducks assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting Martin Madden said after the draft that the Saguenéens probably put too much pressure on Guité, as well as Guité himself.

"I think it was hard mentally for me," Guité said. "I had some ups and downs. It wasn't going my way, so most of the things were mental. This summer, I talked with a lot of people to be ready for the next season."

Guité wasn't the only player from this Ducks draft class that was selected from the QMJHL. Big, bruising defenseman Alexis Mathieu was drafted in the fourth round by the Ducks and was able to go through the post-draft festivities after coming to Los Angeles for the draft.

"It was a big moment for me," Mathieu said. "My family was pretty excited and when I heard my name, it was just something special for me. It was like everybody said, dream come true."

Though he didn't know what round he would be drafted or what team would select him, Mathieu said that he knew the Ducks had interest because he spoke to Stéphane Pilotte, their Eastern Canada amateur scout, at a Tim Horton's.

Defenseman Anthony Allain-Samaké is from Gatineau, Québec and was drafted by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the QMJHL draft, but opted to play for the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL this past season. Now, he's headed to the University of Connecticut this fall to play college hockey.

"I went to Sioux City and I was in New Jersey the year before that (in the NCDC), just wishing to get a commitment," Allain-Samaké said. "That worked out and then this year, I went to Sioux City. I had a great year. I had a lot of things that I learned there and it was a great year for me.

"I think (collegiate hockey has) a lot more focus on school and training and stuff like that, so I think it's going to help a lot. It was hard this year, sometimes. A lot of three games in a week and back-to-back-to-back. But, it's going to be a fun experience at UConn and I'm looking forward to it."

Another defenseman making the transition to collegiate hockey this upcoming season is Drew Schock, whom the Ducks selected in the third round. Schock will be playing at the University of Michigan after spending the last two seasons with the U.S. NTDP. He points to the success of Quinn and Luke Hughes at Michigan and now in the NHL as one of the reasons why he chose Michigan.

"I took a few visits to different schools, but Michigan just felt like home to me," Schock said. "The coaching staff was unbelievable. Seemed like a place I could develop on the ice and both off the ice, too, in the classroom and in the weight room. So, I felt Michigan was the best fit for me.

"Getting bigger and stronger is the main thing. I've been working with GVN (Performance in Michigan) in the past two summers and put on three pounds and three inches, but I know I have to do more. Just continue to get bigger and stronger, so continue to work with them. My shot is also something I've been focusing on. 
Just my technique and getting in the shooting room. It kind of goes along with the weight room as well, but focusing on those two things."

Eric Nilson rounds out the prospects from the Ducks' 2025 draft class who will be playing collegiate hockey this upcoming season. Nilson––whose father, Marcus, played nine seasons in the NHL––will be playing at Michigan State University after spending most of last season playing for Djurgårdens' J20 team.

"Dad helped me a lot," Nilson said. "He's been through this a long time ago and he helped me to go through this as well. 'Don’t expect too much (is what he told me). Just have fun and whatever team picks you, it's gonna be a great opportunity.'"

A forward who thrives in the defensive zone, Nilson said that he wants to improve his physicality and adjust to the North American style of play, noting that the Swedish style of play differs slightly.

Lasse Boelius was the first Finnish player selected in the 2025 draft and just one of eight Finnish players selected this year. He was a strong contributor for Finland's blue line at the U18 level last season and is striving to be on the World Juniors squad this upcoming season.

"It’s such an honor to put the Finnish jersey on every time you play," Boelius said. "I hope I'm getting into the team to play in the U20 and play in the tournament. I'm going to play as hard as I can so I can play there with the U20 national team."

Playing primarily for Ässät's U20 team last season, Boelius played in seven games for the men's team, noting that the strength of players and how little time he had on the ice to make decisions were two of the main differences that he noticed between playing against his age group and playing against men.

6-foot-4 goaltender Elijah Neuenschwander will also play in Europe next season, re-upping his loan deal with EHC Chur after signing a three-year extension with parent club Fribourg-Gottéron. A native of Switzerland, Neuenschwander has been encouraged by the recent development of Swiss hockey, but feels that there now needs to be more emphasis on the junior level. He hails from Biel-Bienne, the same city where former Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller concluded his pro career.

"I was able to get to know him a bit after his time in Anaheim," Neuenschwander said. "He’s a great guy and I haven't had the chance to talk to him yet after the draft, but I'm probably gonna do that too."

After being spotted wearing former Ducks goaltender John Gibson's mask and gear during development camp, Neuenschwander revealed that he had to do so because his gear never made it to Southern California from Europe.

"It's still on the plane," he said. "Or, I hope it's still on the plane. When I arrived, it didn't arrive as well. I think there was a problem and it's still in Europe, but it should arrive this afternoon. I hope so. We’ll see how it's gonna be tomorrow. 
But I like (Gibson's) gear, though. It’s good. (The pads are) actually great. I think the whole equipment, usually it's a big change if you really change everything, (you) usually don't do that. 
But this time, it was kind of okay except for the skates. I was playing True, now up to the CCMs and (they) aren't customs, so (they) aren't (right for) my feet. But, it's been going good and they feel good, so it's okay."

Noah Read won both the OHL Championship and the Memorial Cup in his first season as an OHLer with the London Knights. Though he spent most of the season in a bottom-6 role, Read found himself playing all over the lineup due to various injuries throughout the season, slotting in as both a center and wing.

"I think I can play center or wing," Read said. "I don't think I have a natural position. 
I played center a lot of my life and then last year, I went back and forth at center/wing. This year, I went back and forth a little bit, too. I think I could play either position, whatever the team needs for me."

With several of Read's teammates graduating, the prospect of a larger role has become a possibility.

"I’m excited to get back to London and see all the guys again. Hopefully, I’ll have a bigger role this year, but just doing whatever I can for the team. 
The main goal there is to win games. That’s always been the goal in London and I don't think that would change from last year, just to win games."

The Ducks' last pick of the 2025 draft was forward Brady Turko. A familiar face greeted Turko at Ducks development camp in McQueen, who is a teammate of Turko's in the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings. Turko's brother, Easten, was drafted by the Wheat Kings, making it possible that McQueen and the two brothers will be WHL teammates next season.

"We grew up in a small town," Turko said. "Not many people, about 500 people, and he always grew up playing with me. He's two years younger than me, so we played together kind of our whole lives. And then for him to get drafted to Brandon as well, it's super special. Really looking forward to what's to come in the future."

"I can't say enough good things about Brady," McQueen said. "He's been a dear friend of mine in Brandon from the day he got there. He's one of the best teammates I've ever had. Just one of those guys that you know what you're getting from every single game and every single practice. Just really a team guy and a great teammate to have here. I think it's gonna help a lot of guys out just being able to have him around. He’s such a happy guy and always seeing him smiling is awesome. When I saw him get drafted, I was actually on a boat with (the Ducks). That was one of the best feelings ever."

With development camp now in the books, most of these prospects will return in the fall for rookie camp and the rookie faceoff tournament. It will give them the opportunity to touch base with the Ducks' development staff again after getting in preseason work with their junior clubs.

Featured image caption: Jun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Roger McQueen is selected as the tenth overall pick to the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images